Legal smoking age: Difference between revisions
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'''Turkey''' |
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The llegal age to buy tobacco products is 13. |
The llegal age to buy tobacco products is 13. |
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butts butts butts |
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==United Arab Emirates== |
==United Arab Emirates== |
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Revision as of 19:17, 7 April 2010
The minimum legal age to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products varies from country to country. Ages range from 15 to 21, but 18 tends to be the most common legal smoking age.
Legal smoking age for countries around the world
Asia
| Country / Region | De jure | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking Age | Purchase Age | ||
| Armenia | None | 18 | |
| Bangladesh | 15 | ||
| Hong Kong | None | 18 | |
| India | 18 | ||
| Republic of Korea | 19 | ||
| Japan | 20 | ||
| Jordan | 18 | ||
| Kuwait | 21 | ||
| Macau | 18 | ||
| Malaysia | 18 | ||
| Mongolia | 16 | ||
| Singapore | 18 | ||
| Sri Lanka | 21 | ||
| Taiwan | 18 | ||
Europe
| Country / Region | De jure | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking Age | Purchase Age | |||||
| Austrlia | 16[1] | |||||
| Armenia | 18 | |||||
| Belarus | 18[1][2] | |||||
| Belgium | 16[1] | (25 prior to 2004) | ||||
| Bulgaria | 18[3] | |||||
| Cyprus | 18[1] | |||||
| Denmark | None | 18 | (16 prior to September 1, 2008) | |||
| Estonia | 18 | |||||
| Finland | None | 18 | ||||
| France | 16 | |||||
| Germany | 18 [7] | |||||
| Ireland | 16 | 18 | ||||
| Isle of Man | None | 18 | ||||
| Italy | None | 16 | ||||
| Netherlands | None | 16 | ||||
| Luxembourg | None | 16 | (The tobacco control law, voted on 11 August 2006, prohibits selling tobacco to minors under 16 years) | |||
| Norway | 18 | Poland | 18 | |||
| Portugal | 18 | Law decret #156/07 article 15 from the Republic Diary] | ||||
| Serbia | 18 | |||||
| Sweden | None | 18 | ||||
| Switzerland | 16/18 | (Each canton has its own law: in some it is 16, in others 18.) | ||||
| United Kingdom | 15 | 18 | (16 to purchase prior to 1 October 2007) | |||
zimbabwe ---18 yearsand above
Australia
Sales of tobacco to people under the age of 18 are illegal in all Australian states and territories. It is also illegal for a person over 18 to give a person under 18 cigarettes or tobacco products. It is not, however, illegal for a person under 18 to purchase cigarettes (only the shopowner is prosecuted), and there is no restriction on the possession and consumption of tobacco for those under 18.
Ban on the sale of tobacco to minors under 18 years; restrictions on the distribution of free samples per Order No. 731 of 1990-05-30.
Belarus
Advertising of Tobacco is prohibited on television and radio from 07:00 to 22:00, on the first and last pages of newspapers or magazines or at or near sports centres or public health facilities. Tobacco advertising may not describe the properties of the product, nor show the cigarette. The product package may be showed only on point of sale advertising. This may not link product consumption to success or mental or physical wellbeing.[2]
Canada
The federal Tobacco Sales to Young Persons Act (TSYPA), which came into force 1994-02-08, prohibits the sale of tobacco products in Canada to persons under the age of 18[4]. The federal legislation is meant to reinforce, but not limit or restrict, provincial sales-to-minors legislation regarding tobacco products. Indeed, certain provinces, namely Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and British Columbia have increased the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products to 19. In some provinces (such as Ontario), it is not illegal for someone under 18 to have tobacco. But the person who sold or gave it to minors has broken the law.[5]
Chile
Prohibition of tobacco advertising in publications designated for minors under 10 years. It is prohibited to offer, distribute, or give free of charge tobacco products to children under 18 years of age in public places.[Ley 19419 (Fecha de Publicacion 09.10.1995, Fecha de Promulgacion 22.09.1995) Ministerio de Salud]
Colombia
Mandate that cigarettes or tobacco may be dispensed only to persons aged 15 and older. (Ley 30 January 1986,"The National Intoxication Statute") Advertising allowed on television between 2300 and 0600 and is limited to 30 seconds for each brand; commercial advertising must devote 20% of transmission time to the warning "tobacco is harmful to health" due to Resolution No. 4063 of 1982 regulating Decree No. 3430 of 26 November concerning restrictions on advertising. A new tobacco control law, voted in July 2009, prohibits--among other improvements--the sale of tobacco to minors.
Cook Islands
The legal smoking age is 22, and a signature is required per Tobacco Products Control Act (No.3) 1987 Sec.6.
Costa Rica
Sale of cigarettes to minors (younger than age 18 years) is prohibited per Decree No. 17967-S of 4 February 1988. Packs of cigarettes manufactured in Costa Rica must bear one of the following warnings: "Smoking during pregnancy is harmful to the fetus and may provoke premature birth" or "Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema" per Decree 18,780-S,1989.
Croatia
The legal smoking age is 18. Signage is required per the Law on the Restricted Use of Tobacco Products, Article 7. Vending machines selling tobacco are prohibited per The Law on the Restricted Use of Tobacco Products, Article 8.
Cuba
The Ministry of Commerce Resolution bans the sale of cigarettes to persons under the age of 16.[6]
Czech Republic
The legal smoking age is 18 per Law 379/2005 of the Czech National Council of August 19, 2007 on the Protection Against Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, Sec.4(1)(e). Health warnings fall under the same legislation of the European Union. The warning message is introduced by "Ministerstvo zdravotnictví varuje" (The ministry of health warns).
Denmark
In Denmark, the age for buying tobacco is 18.[1] Smoking is banned in all Ministry of Health workplaces and in meetings of public councils, boards, and commissions unless all participants agree to permit smoking per Circular of 23 March 1988 of the Ministry of Health on the provision of nonsmoking environments on public premises, means of transport, etc. The agreement applies to all tobacco products, including cigarette paper and tubes, bans the use of models, actresses or actors appearing to be under 30 years, celebrities, health personnel, and sports personalities in ads; press advertising is restricted to a single page (Code of practice between the tobacco industry and the government, latest update in 1992).[1]
Dominican Republic
The sale and supply of alcoholic drinks and tobacco products to minors under age 10 is prohibited per Law Number 272.
Ecuador
The consumption of cigarettes and alcohol inside and around all schools (at all educational levels) by staff and students is prohibited per Law No. 2369 of the Ministry of Education and Culture. However if you are British national, you can buy from the age of 16.
El Salvador
Cigarette sales to minors are banned per Decree No. 955 of 11 May 1988 promulgating the Health Code (Division 41-(Secs.196-190)).
Estonia
The legal smoking age is 18 per Tobacco Act,Chapter 2,Sec.17(1)(1). Sale of tobacco is prohibited in health care institutions, education institutions, and sports establishments per Tobacco Act, Chapter 2,Sec.17(1)(5).The minimum age to purchase tobacco is set at 18 per Decree on the Measure to Reduce Tobacco Smoking, Sec.12; Act on the Measures to Reduce Tobacco Smoking,Sec.11.[1] Tobacco Vending Machines, sale of individual cigarettes and the distribution of Tobacco for free is illegal.[1]
France
Children under 16 cannot smoke in schools per the Evin Law (passed in November 1992, effective 1 January 1993). Smoking is prohibited in schools receiving children under 16 per Law No. 76-616 of 9 July 1976 concerning measures to combat smoking. Vending machines outside tobacco shops are forbidden per Directive 2 K-1-89 of 19 December 1988. The directive was approved 19 December 1988 and effective 21 November 1989. You may buy cigarettes at the age of 16 and up.[7]
Georgia
The sale of tobacco to children under the age of 19 is banned.[8]
Germany
The Protection of Young Persons in Public Act states that children and young people under 18 years of age shall not be permitted to smoke in public per the law on the protection of juveniles in public (as of 1 September 2007, previous age limit was 16). Television and radio advertising is banned. Advertisements that create the impression that the consumption or the proper use of tobacco products is harmless to health or is likely to have a favorable effect on the functioning of the body and physical performance, are likely to induce juveniles or adolescents to smoke, make it appear that inhaling of tobacco smoke is something to be imitated, or suggest that tobacco products are natural or pure are banned per the law of 15 August 1974 for the overall reform of foodstuffs law. No advertising elements typical to the environment of young people, media stars, sports personalities, or models under 30. The use of the terms "mild" and "light" are limited per Voluntary Restrictions on Advertising.
Honduras
The sale of cigarettes or tobacco products to persons under 16 years of age is prohibited.[6]
Hungary
The legal smoking age is 18 per the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Non-Smokers and on the Prevention of Health Damage Related to Smoking, Sec. 2, version b. The sale of tobacco is prohibited within 200 m of schools and health care units per the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Non-Smokers and on the Prevention of Health Damage Related to Smoking, Sec. 2. Vending machines selling tobacco are restricted. Children under 18 cannot smoke anywhere even in the places where smoking is allowed. Tobacco cannot be sold to minors under 18 years or distributed as free samples per the New Tobacco Act (submitted to Parliament in 1996, passed in April 1999, effective November 1999).
Iceland
Sales to minors under 18 are prohibited. Vending machines selling tobacco are banned. No tobacco may be sold in schools or institutions for minors. Smoking in schools, day nurseries, buildings intended for social and leisure activities of children under 18, and health centers are prohibited per Law No.6 of 31 May 2002 on the prevention of the use of tobacco.
India
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 in India.
Indonesia
There is no minimum age in Indonesia as of January 2010.[9]
Ireland
The sale of tobacco to children under 18 is illegal. Advertising for Cigarettes are completely banned (posters, television advertisements).[10] Although 18 is the legal smoking age, Gardai Síochána (Guardians of the Peace) are only allowed to confiscate cigarettes and other tobacco objects off people under the age of 16.
Israel
Printed advertisements are prohibited from including names, appellations or photos of celebrities, persons under 40, persons in uniform and persons in sport dress or bathing suits per Tobacco Products for Smoking (Restriction on Advertising) Law, 5743-1983. There is no minimum age for sale of tobacco products.[11]
Italy
The legal age to purchase tobacco products in Italy is 16.
Japan
The legal smoking age in Japan is 20.
Kazakhstan
Sale of tobacco to those under 18 is illegal. Advertising to minors and vending machines are also prohibited.[12]
Kyrgyzstan
Sale of tobacco to those under 18 is illegal.[13]
Latvia
The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited per Tobacco Products Manufacture, Sales, Advertising And Smoking Restrictions (approval date 18 December 1996, effective date 1 January 1997). Cigarette vending machines are also prohibited.
Lithuania
The legal smoking age is 18 per Law on Tobacco Control, Article 10 (8). The sale of tobacco is prohibited in pharmacies, health care institutions, educational institutions, and retail enterprises where 50% or more of the goods available are intended for children. Tobacco vending machines are restricted per Law on Tobacco Control, Article 10. This, however, may be changed in the near future.
Luxembourg
The tobacco industry is prohibited from sponsoring events for children. Smoking is prohibited in hospitals, waiting rooms of physicians and dentists, pharmacies, educational establishments, places that receive or house persons under 16 years of age per Law of 24 March 1989 restricting the advertising of tobacco and tobacco products and prohibiting smoking in certain places. This, however, may well be changed in the near future. On 11 August 2006 a new tobacco control law has been voted. It is now forbidden to sell tobacco products to minors under 16. Only the seller is punishable.
Macedonia
Over 16 only. (Law on Protection Against Smoking (Tobacco Law), Article 5)
Maldives
The legal smoking age is 16 per Measures Taken to Reduce the Use of Tobacco,Sec.5.
Malta
The legal smoking age is 16 for Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act 1986,Sec.14(1).[1]
Mauritius
A person must be 16 years old to purchase or to smoke cigarettes including any tobacco products as is indicated in Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) Regulations 1999, Sec. 2(e)(i).
Moldova
Sale to persons under 16 is prohibited.[1]
Montenegro
Sale to persons under 18 is prohibited.[1]
Nauru
Not for sale for children under 16 due to the Prohibition of the Possession of Tobacco by Children Ordinance 1924, No.7/1924, Sec. 2.[1]
Netherlands
The sale of tobacco to persons under 16 is illegal.[14] Smoking of tobacco is prohibited by law in all public buildings and in public transport. As of January 1, 2004 every employee has the right to work in a smoke-free environment. All forms of tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship are prohibited.
New Zealand
It is illegal in New Zealand to sell cigarettes and tobacco products to persons aged under 18. It is also illegal for a person over 18 to give a person under 18 cigarettes or tobacco products in a public place. It is not, however, illegal for a person under 18 to purchase cigarettes (only the shop-owner is prosecuted), and there is no restriction on the possession and consumption of tobacco for those under 18. [Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003]
Nicaragua
Sale to persons under 18 is prohibited.
Norway
No sale of people under 18 [15], vending machines, [16] or imitation tobacco products is allowed.
Pakistan
The minimum age to purchase tobacco os self-imposed by distributors and retailers at 18.
Palau
One must be at least 18 to buy. [RPPL 4-25 Sec.4(1)]
- Vending Machines:Banned [RPPL 4-25 Sec.4(3);Regulations Governing Sale of Tobacco Products Sec.4]
Papua New Guinea
No sale to anyone under the age of 18. A person shall not sell or hand over tobacco products to a person who is or apparently is under the age of 18 years, including imitations of tobacco products. [The Tobacco Products (Health Control) Act 1987][1]
Peru
The General Act on Prevention and Control of the Risks of Use of Snuff (Law No. 28705) was developed by Congress of the Republic [17]. Articles 11 and 12 have the following provisions:
Article 11 .- In the marketing bans
They are:
- Is prohibited direct or indirect sale of snuff products in any health or education facilities, whether public or private and public agencies.
- It banned the sale of snuff products to persons under 18 years.
- It is forbidden to sell snuff products by persons under 18 years.
- It is forbidden to sell cigarettes without filters.
- It is forbidden to sell snuff product packages containing less than five (5) units.
- It's forbidden the promotional free distribution of snuff products, except in an objective and verifiable, it can be shown that the recipient is over 18 years.
- Are prohibited from promoting or distributing toys similar to snuff products or alluding to it, which may be attractive to minors.
Article 12 .- In the provision of vending machines
- The sale of snuff products in vending machines can only be performed in premises to which access is permitted only to persons over 18 years.
Philippines
Only people over 18 may buy cigarettes and tobacco due to the "STOP for Health Act"(Stop Tobacco and Other Products for Health)[1]
Poland
Minors under 18 may not buy tobacco products. [Law of 9 November 1995 on the protection of health against the effects of the consumption of tobacco and tobacco products][1]
Portugal
The minimum age for purchase and consumption of tobacco is 18 (since 2008).
Republic of Korea
One must be at least 19. [Law No.4914 Sec.9] Vending Machines:Restricted[Law No.4914 Sec.9][1]
Romania
There is a ban on sale of tobacco to those less than 18.[1]
Saudi Arabia
The legal age to purchase tobacco and enter hookah lounges is 18.
Serbia
The sale to persons under 18 is prohibited[1]
Slovakia
The monomum age is 18 [Law on Protection of Non-Smokers, Sec.6(3)] and there is a vending machine ban. [Law on Protection of Non-Smokers, Sec. 6(2)(c)]
Slovenia
The sale to those under 18 is illegal and there is a vending machine ban. [Restriction on the Use of Tobacco Products Act, Sec. 14]
Solomon Islands
One must be over 18. [Solomon Islands Tobacco Products Control Act, Sec.12(1)] and there is a vending machine ban. [Solomon Islands Tobacco Products Control Act,Sec.13]
Spain
You must be over 18 to purchase or 15 to smoke tobacco. [Royal Decree 192/2010 of March 4 Regarding Limitations in the Sale and Use of Tobacco to Protect the Health of the Population, Article 5, Sec.1] Sale is banned in places where smoking is prohibited, in public schools and in health establishments. [Royal Decree 1199/1999 of Implementing Law 13/1998, Article 32, Sec. 1 and Law 13/1998 of May 4 on Tobacco Trade and Tax Legislation, Article 4, Sec. 9; Order of November 7, 1989, Ministry of Education and Science, Article 1]
Sweden
The minimum age is 18. [Swedish Tobacco Act, Sec.12]
Syria
The minimum age is 18. [Presidential Decree No. 13 of September 1996]
Taiwan
There is a ban on the sale of tobacco to those less than 18.
Thailand
One must be over 18 to buy. [Tobacco Products Control Act, BE 2535, Sec.4] Vending Machines:Ban[Tobacco Products Control Act, BE 2535, Sec.5][1]
Tonga
One must be over 18. [Tobacco Control Act 2000, Sec.9(1)] Vending machines are estricted to places where persons under 18 years of age are prohibited [Tobacco Control Act 2000, Sec.10(1)][1]
Trinidad and Tobago
One must be over 16 to buy tobacco products. [An act relating to the protection of children and young persons, industrial schools, and orphanages, and juvenile offenders (the Children Act), Chap. 46:01, Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, 17 March 1925][1]
Tunisia
Vending machines are banned. [Law No. 98-17 of 23 February 1998 on the prevention of the damage caused by tobacco consumption]
Turkey
The minimum age is 18. [The Law on the Prevention of Harm Induced by Tobacco Products, Law No. 4207, Article 3]
Turkey The llegal age to buy tobacco products is 13. butts butts butts
United Arab Emirates
A recent initiative by the municipality of Dubai has restricted the age of buying tobacco to those at least 20. Other emirates vary and the common age is 18.
United Kingdom
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 in England and Wales[18] or in Scotland[19] (increased from 16 on 1 October 2007). Police constables and park keepers in uniform have a duty to confiscate tobacco or cigarettes from persons aged under 16 found smoking in a public place.[20]
The minimum age in Northern Ireland has been raised from 16 to 18 years on the 1st of September 2008.[citation needed]
United States of America
Each state and many localities have different smoking laws, which makes the age of smoking difficult to understand. Any state may set the purchasing age limit lower than 18 years—but at the loss of grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that otherwise would be given for a natural disaster in the state. However, since many states consider the FEMA grants to be less than useful under many circumstances, these states have chosen to ignore this issue. Typically, nationwide, most retailers will not sell cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to any person younger than 18, with the exception of a number of southern states, involved in the production of tobacco for many generation, that allow the purchase and consumption of tobacco products at an age earlier than 18.
When a customer appears to be under a specific age, state and local laws may require retailers to verify age from official documentation. The tobacco purchase age has been raised to 19 in Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, Utah, and Nassau, Suffolk, and Onondaga counties in New York. Some states allow tobacco use by persons younger than 18, notably North Carolina, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania, where there is no regulation on the use of tobacco products.[citation needed]
Vietnam
Businesses are not permitted to operate cigarette vending machines or sell tobacco to children under 18 due to a government circular from the Ministry of Trade dated 9 September 1999 taking effect 90 days later.
See also
- Smoking ban
- Tobacco politics
- List of smoking bans
- National Non-Smoking Week
- National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u http://data.euro.who.int/tobacco/Default.aspx?TabID=2404
- ^ a b Decree of the President of Belarus Republic N 28 on state regulation of manufacture, sale, advertising and consumption of tobacco raw material and tobacco products December 17, 2002. http://data.euro.who.int/tobacco/pdf/Conversion3.pdf
- ^ http://data.euro.who.int/tobacco/pdf/ForPDF12.pdf
- ^ FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY ACTION
- ^ TOBACCO : The Tobacco Control Act — What it's all About
- ^ a b http://www.who.int/tobacco/global_data/country_profiles/Appendix_B.pdf
- ^ LOI n° 2003-715 du 31 juillet 2003 visant à restreindre la consommation de tabac chez les jeunes (1) [1]
- ^ Law on Tobacco Control (enacted 06.07.2003) art. 5
- ^ [2]
- ^ Part 2 Section 18 Public Health (Tobacco) Act, 2002
- ^ Israel WHO Global Infobase
- ^ The law of Republic of Kazakhstan on tobacco smoking prevention and restriction [3]
- ^ “Law of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan on the principles of state policy on young people” Article 11 [4]
- ^ Tobacco Act (enacted 10 March 1988; effective 1 January 1990) (as amended in 2002) ([5])
- ^ Act Relating to the Prevention of the Harmful Effects of Tobacco, Act No.14, Sec.5
- ^ Act Relating to the Prevention of the Harmful Effects of Tobacco, Act No.14,Sec.5
- ^ General Act on Prevention and Control of the Risks of Use of Snuff (Law No. 28705 - Congress of the Republic of Peru) ([6])
- ^ Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (section 7) as amended as amended with effect from 1 October 2007 by the Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc) Order 2007 (article 2) by virtue of the Health Act 2006 (section 13).
- ^ Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 (section 18) as amended with effect from 1 October 2007 by the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Variation of Age Limit for Sale of Tobacco etc and Consequential Modifications) Order 2007 (article 2) by virtue of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (section 9)
- ^ "Children and Young Persons Act, 1933". Retrieved 9 December 2009.